Susannah Fiennes
The Space Between 1
FOREWORD BY MARY ANN PRIOR It is four years since Susannah Fiennes’ previous exhibition at the Redfern Gallery, and much has happened in the intervening years: a pandemic, the war in Ukraine and numerous disasters related to climate change. Times have often seemed very bleak. Yet in respect of the pandemic in particular, many creative individuals used the enforced isolation of lockdowns to engage wholeheartedly with their practise; what resulted was not necessarily a gloomy response to the dire state of the world, but often a celebration of that which we had previously taken for granted, most notably recognition of the importance of Nature and personal relationships. Paring back to essentials gave gravitas to simplicity. Fiennes’ recent paintings do indeed show the joy of post-pandemic reunions with friends and family, our need for connection with others and the pleasure of commonplace, everyday activities: reading a book, stoking a fire, offering food, pouring a glass of wine or picking fruit, but these new works show us so much more. The subject matter is naturally what draws the viewer in, while the artist’s interest goes far beyond it to focus on the shapes which materialise when rendering gestures in paint. A basket held in the crook of an arm, a hand on a hip, a face resting on cupped hands or arms held out in greeting all produce geometric outlines that enclose negative space be they triangular, rectangular, circular or square. Fiennes is hyper-aware of how space is revealed when a figure is leaning forward, reaching upwards, stretching across or bowing down. It is in this area between what is perceived as void space and the subject matter that the magic happens and true balance can, in theory, be achieved. In Fiennes’ paintings we can frequently detect vestiges of a previous image, 2
possibly one that was abandoned, or altered when she decided to modify the orientation or simply because, during the process of painting, Fiennes changed the site of emphasis, and partially scraped away what was there before. This layering of paint upon paint, these glimpses of what might have been, the decision-making made visible, and the changing relationship of one element to another add mystery, intrigue and depth to the work. Similarly, the anonymity of the figures reinforces a feeling of strangeness, almost ghostliness, which emerges from the imagery, and allows us as viewers to project onto these intimately depicted moments and locations our own memories, experiences and interactions with other people and places. The opening of The Space Between marks a significant moment in Susannah Fiennes’ career, in that she is now officially represented by the Redfern Gallery, and joins a highly-respected and talented group of artists already on their roster. This exhibition celebrates the work of a single artist but many people combined to bring it to fruition, and I would particularly like to thank everyone at the Redfern Gallery for the commitment they have shown to making it a success. Special thanks must go to Richard Gault, one of the Directors of the Redfern Gallery, for making the cocuration of this show such an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Mary Ann Prior October 2023
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Title Year Medium Dimensions
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Picnic by River 2022 Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
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Seated by River Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
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2023
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Boys Lighting Fire Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
2020
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Teatime 2023 Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
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Evening by River Oil on canvas 91.5 x 68.6 cm
2023
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Lighting Campfire at Night 2021 Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
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Winter Campfire Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
2020
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River Picnic with Basket 2022 Oil on canvas 91.5 x 68.6 cm
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Kneeling by Fire Oil on canvas 91.5 x 68.6 cm
2020
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Summer Party by River Oil on canvas 61 x 81.3 cm
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2020
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Blue Ladies with Cake Oil on canvas 61 x 81.3 cm
2021
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Greeting 2023 Oil on canvas 61 x 81.3 cm
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Before the Party Oil on canvas 81.3 x 61 cm
2022
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Conversation and Wheelbarrow 2023 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
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Seated on Ground with Jug 2021 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
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Dialogue of Arms Oil on canvas 61 x 45.7 cm
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2023
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Hand on Shoulder Oil on canvas 61 x 45.7 cm
2021
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Filling Glass 2023 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
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Drawing Yellow Boat Oil on canvas 61 x 45.7 cm
2022
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Singing at Piano Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
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2023
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Ladies on Bench Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
2022
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Boys on Bench Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm
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2022
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Church 2023 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Bathers with Yellow Kayak 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Conversation and Background Figures 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Chocolate Cake Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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2020
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Reading 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Chess 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Group of Friends by Stables 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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More Wine 2021 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Winter Bonfire Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
2020
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On the Bench Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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2023
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Talking (Yellow Background) 2023 Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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Talking (Basket on Arm) 2020 Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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Have Some Cake 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Profiteroles 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Sitting on Steps Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
2021
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Blue Figures Talking Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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2023
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Backview by River Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
2022
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Backview Figures on Bench 2021 Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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Mother and Son Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
2020
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Leaning on Rake Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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2023
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Sore Hand 2023 Oil on board 45.7 x 35 cm
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Picking Up Apples Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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2022
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Sore Hand 2023 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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View from the Top Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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2020
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Arms Interacting Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
2023
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Boys Having Tea (Blue Background) 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Lockdown Boys Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
2020
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Tea in Great Hall (i) Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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2020
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Tea in Great Hall (ii) Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
2021
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River Picnic Study Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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2020
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Picnic on Sandy Ground Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
2021
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Hand on Shoulder (Red Background) 2020 Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm
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Three Figures Talking Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
2021
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Two Figures Facing Each Other 2023 Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
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Lady with Ver y Green Pear 2021 Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
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Seated by River with Guitar 2021 Oil on board 22.8 x 35 cm
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More Wine 2021 Oil on board 22.8 x 35 cm
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Party with Dar k Background 2021 Oil on board 22.8 x 35 cm
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Hazy Talking Figures 2020 Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
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Study for Boys on Bench 2021 Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
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Sore Hand with Red Background 2023 Oil on board 35 x 22.8 cm
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Walking with Dogs Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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2022
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Reading in Red Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
2020
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Catching Up 2020 Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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Comforting Figures Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
2021
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Figures with Legs in Icy Water 2020 Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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Comforting Figures in Purple 2022 Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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Bonfire and Buddy Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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2022
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Deep in Conversation Oil on board 27 x 20 cm
2020
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Sitting on the Wall Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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2022
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Reclining Figure in Red Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
2021
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Figures in Kitchen Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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2021
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In the Galler y Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
2020
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Ladies Holding Hands Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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2020
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Leaning on Gate Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
2020
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Ladies in Hats (From Behind) 2020 Oil on board 20 x 27 cm
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Throwing the Ball Oil on board 27 x 20 cm
2020
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Green and Red Ladies Oil on board 27 x 22 cm
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2018
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Lady in Orange Trouser s 2020 Oil on board 18 x 13.5 cm
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Front cover : Green and Red Ladies Oil on board 27 x 22 cm
2018
Back inside cover, detail of: Group of Friends by Stables Oil on board 35 x 45.7 cm Back cover : Picnic by River Oil on canvas 68.6 x 91.5 cm
2020
2022
All images © Susannah Fiennes Cour tesy of The Redfern Galler y Photography by David Bur ton and Jess Esposito Catalogue © The Redfer n Galler y, 2023 All rights reser ved. No par t of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any other information storage or retr ieval system without prior permission in writing from the galler y.
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20 Cork Street, London, W1S 3HL tel +44 (0)207 734 1732 info@redfern-gallery.com redfern-gallery.com
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